GEF EXPANDED CONSTITUENCY WORKSHOP. 4-6 September, Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire. REPORT OF WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS. Samuel Dotse

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1 GEF EXPANDED CONSTITUENCY WORKSHOP 4-6 September, 2012 Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire. REPORT OF WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS Samuel Dotse RFP GEF NGO Network, West Africa

2 FORWARD The Rapporteur- Samuel Dotse gratefully acknowledges to be given such an opportunity to record proceedings of GEF Expanded Constituency Workshop which was conducted in Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire from 4-6 September, We would also like to thank the participants that were drawn from all countries in the West Africa Sub Region. NB: The rapporteur was assisted by Ms Vanessa Sena Awadzi. 1.0 INTRODUCTION The GEF Expanded Constituency Workshops (ECW) are held once a year in each region and are aimed at keeping the GEF national focal points, convention focal points and other key stakeholders, including civil society, abreast of GEF strategies, policies and procedures and to encourage coordination. 2.0 ORGANISATION OF WORKSHOP 2.1 Workshop Duration There was a two days technical presentation session and a day s field trip to Parc National du Banco 3.0 PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

3 The Government of Cote d Ivoire, line ministries and and representatives of Civil Society across the West Africa Sub Region. 4.0 CHAIR: GEF Focal Point (Cote d Ivoire) 5.0 VICE CHAIR: GEF Secretariat 6.0 FACILITATORS GEF Secretariat Government of Cote d Ivoire GEF Evaluation Office GEF Agencies 7.0 RAPPORTEURS Samuel Dotse - Ghana Vanessa Sena Awadzi Ghana DAY 1-Tuesday September 4, 2012 Welcome Address In her welcome address the GEF Operational Focal Point for Cote d Ivoire talked about capacity building in all meetings concerning the environment and also congratulated the former and new C.E.O of GEF and wished the new C.E.O well in her role. The Minister for Environment of Cote d Ivoire and GEF Sec. led by William Ehlers also welcomed the participants and wished them fruitful deliberations as part of their welcome addresses. Presentations

4 The first presentation was made on Accessing the GEF highlighting the Trust Fund, GEF Institutional Framework, Project Development and Implementation steps, Implementing Agencies and their responsibilities, other funds managed by the GEF (LDCF, SCCF, NPIF and Adaptation Fund), the GEF 5 STAR Allocations for countries present at the meeting. The presentation also highlighted on Broadening the GEF Partnership, Public Private Partnership in GEF 5, the GEF website and PMIS. The second presentation on GEF as a Financial Mechanism of the Conventions highlighted on the Implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and other Aichi-Nagoya Outcomes, GEF and UNFCCC Cooperation; COP 17 Action Items, UNCCD COP 10 Decisions on Collaboration with the GEF and Chemicals Updates. The third presentation also on Results Based Management at the GEF highlighted on Project Level Results, Portfolio Monitoring, Management effectiveness and efficiency and Reporting and Accessibility. The day ended with a forth presentation on the Roles of Council Members and Focal Points in the GEF. DAY 2- Wednesday September 5, 2012 The day started with a Practical Exercise on a Case study that described a functional country but with relevant issues and opportunities. Participants were to take the country s situation and come up with an initial stage of a GEF project design including funding in groups. At the end of the exercise the results from various groups were discussed and analyzed. A second exercise was also done on Case Questions on Project Implementation Reports. Participants analyzed a project Implementation Status and Results of a country. Closing Ceremony

5 In their closing remarks, the Operational Focal Point, Representative of the GEF Sec. and Representative of the Minister of Environment of Cote d Ivoire thanked participants for their effective participation in the workshop and wished them a safe journey to their various countries. The second day also ended with a presentation on Monitoring and Evaluation-OPS5. This session was exclusively for Focal Points and CSOs. DAY 3- Thursday September 6, 2012 Participants were sent on an insightful and exciting field trip to a project site for producing a local delicacy with energy efficient stoves on large scale and also to Parc National du Banco and forest reserve in the middle of the city of Abidjan. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMEMNDATIONS The Expanded Constituency Workshop of the Global Environment Facility for West Africa was a useful platform to share experiences from all stakeholders within the GEF mandate. The workshop recognized the need for: Coordination between state actors, non-governmental actors (CSOs), private sector and other stakeholders in fostering participatory action and generating needs in environmental protection and preservation in the sub-region. Challenges Some of the challenges to the effective operationalisation of GEF mandate in the sub region were identified as: Weak cooperation between CSOs and their respective governments

6 Weak institutional infrastructure poor capacity in many organizations to undertake their mission Policy shifts at government level The main conclusions were: Historically there has been little direct involvement of CSOs in the development of country policies, plans and projects. The GEF Small Grants Programme has been important in many countries to support CSOs but there have been few opportunities of involvement of CSOs in medium and full sized projects. There is not enough coordination between CSOs and Government and few joint projects. Meetings between GEF Focal Points - CSOs regular are not being organized in most countries accept for Ghana where the level of cooperation between the GEF operational focal point has been described as healthy. Recommendations by CSO s GEF should provide support for regular Regional meetings and other knowledge sharing and technical exchange opportunities among stakeholders in the region Increase the GEF SGP budget in the region and strengthen SGP outreach and capacity building activities for CSOs; strengthen existing GEF SGP networks link them to the GEF NGO Network GEF should increase support for the Operational Focal Points. The current UD$9,000 is insufficient.

7 NB: Below are the list of CSO and IP participants and pictures of the 3 day workshop.

8 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS NAME PROFESSIONAL TITLE ORGANIZATION COUNTRY Mr. Franck Cyrille Monkoun Coordinator Groupement des Exploitants Benin Agricoles du Benin (GEA-BENIN) Mr. Eric Kwabena Agbozo Chief Executive Officer Defence Against AIDS, Poverty and Ghana Underdevelopment Ms. Vanessa Sena Awadzi Deputy Chief Executive Officer HATOF Foundation Ghana Mr. Samuel Confidence Dotse Chief Executive Officer HATOF Foundation Ghana Ms. Sylvia Bentil Country Coordinator Federation of Environmental and Ghana Ecological Diversity for Agricultural Revampment and Human Rights Ms. Margret Bonason Att. Program Officer Farmers Associated to Conserve Liberia the Environment (FACE) Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara The Movement for the Survival of Nigeria the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Ms. Angela Nneka Okoye Coordinator Organization for Sustainance of Nigeria the Nigerian Environment Mr. Benjamin Ogbalor CEO Initiative for Community Nigeria Development Mr. Ishmaek Kindama Dumbuya Director Sierra Leone Environmental Sierra Leone Journalists Association, Mr. Baroma Madomba Bamana Program Manager Organization for the Environment Togo

9 WORSHOP PICTURES

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